AMMAN // Abu Yazan closed his small shop for the evening, in a hurry to join the crowd at the Hussein Palestinian refugee camp protesting the country-wide price hikes on gas and fuel.
"It is the first time we go out against prices. When we used to protest, it had to do with Gaza," Mr Yazan, a 32-year-old Jordanian of Palestinian origin said last month. As he locked his shop, a recording in the background blared: "Welcome! Half a dinar!", referring to the prices of the made-in-China trinkets, from hair bands to dusters, he sells in the crowded market.
"I swear to God we still did not feel the impact but, in a month, there will be more thefts and crimes. People will not tolerate the prices. I don't know how we are going to survive. The most important thing we think of now is how are we going to eat and drink," he said.
Government lifted the subsidies on November 13, raising the cost of heating and cooking gas by 54 per cent and some oil derivatives by up to 28 per cent. One person was killed and dozens injured, including policemen in the protests. More than 150 men were arrested.
It also sent Jordanians of Palestinian origin, who were once reluctant to join the small but persistant anti-government protests that began almost two years ago, trickling into the streets.
Their unexpected participation raised alarm in government that, since the Arab Spring, has counted on the detachment of a segment of the population that makes up more than 50 per cent of the country's 6.5 million population.
"It is the first time that the silent majority started taking to the streets," said Imad Hmoud, owner of Satel news website in Amman. "In the past two years, there was no consensus on the political demands, but now the economic grievances has widened the base of protesters and the Palestinians joined in."
"If their [economic] grievances are not addressed the demands will become stronger and they will ask for a role in the decision-making process. This will add pressure on the monarchy to make change," he said.
Unlike protests that called for reforming or toppling the monarchy, the demonstrators in camps such as Baqqa, Al Hussein and Azmi Mufti, largely blamed government corruption for the country's economic woes. Some protests made rare calls for the overthrow of the king.
But Jordan's prime minister, Abdullah Ensour, said shaky state finances forced him to hike prices to save the Jordanian economy from further deterioration.
The said the country's public debt had ballooned to Dh22 billion because of rising oil prices, the interruption of gas supplies from Egypt and government subsisidies for services.
"The debt value of the gross domestic product reached a record high and swelled to 75 per cent compared with 60 per cent," the minister was quoted as saying in the government news agency last week.
Abu Mutasem, 56, is an activist who sells furniture in Baqaa, the largest Palestinian refugee camp, which was opened in 1968, a year after te six-day Arab-Israeli war that send 380,000 fleeing to Jordan.
"Although we share one identity, we were neutral about the protests," said Mr Mutasem. "First it was Jordanians who were unhappy with the situation, although, unlike us, they have jobs in the government, security and the army. As long as the main citizen was unhappy, we thought of the protests as a Jordanian affair.
"Now there is an awakening due to the price hikes. We are all suffering."
Analysts say the initial reluctance of Palestinians to join the protest movement hinged on the question of identity - their perception of being temporary guests in Jordan, and concern about losing their jobs, businesses, having their citizenship revoked or being discrimated against.
Analysts say the initial reluctance of Palestinians to join the protest movement hinged on the question of identity - their perception of being temporary guests in Jordan, and concern about losing their jobs or citizenship if they are arrested. While Palestinians dominate the business sector and many enjoy equal rights with Jordanians, including the right to vote, they remain under-represented in the government sector, security jobs and political life. The election law is gerrymandered in areas that has a majority of Jordanians of Palestinian origin.
As well, many are haunted by the 1970 Black September unrest when the late King Hussein cracked down on Palestinian guerillas who attemped to overthrow him. As such, their loyalty is sometimes questioned in a country that has opened its doors for them in the refugee wave following the 1948-1967 Arab Israeli wars.
"They are afraid they will pay the price," Mohammad Abu Rumman, an analyst with the Centre for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan, said. "They are concerned that their citizenships will be revoked and that they will be discriminated against because of their origin if they are detained or arrested. This is not necessarily true. Jordanians, who were arrested during the protests, were treated harshly. "
In 2009, Human Rights Watch criticised Jordan for revoking the citizenships of Jordanians of Palestinian origin. The government argued it was only asking them to clarify their status by renewing permits that recognise them as citizens in the West Bank, in an attempt to fend off moves by Israel to remove Palestinians from the territories. Since then, the government said, it has returned citizenship cards. But the feelings of insecurity among Palestinians remain in a country that is buffeted by turmoil between the Israeli Palestinian conflict to its west, Syria's war in the north and Iraq's instability in the east.
In the early days of Jordan's protests, their participation was limited mostly to members of the Islamic Action Front, Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood offshoot. But when the fuel and gas prices jumped, Jordanians and Palestinians equally felt the pinch.
Still, despite their participation, many are worried. They equate political activism with betraying their own country, aside from their concern about upsetting Jordan, a country that had welcomed them.
Sitting on a mattress in his Diwan, Abdel Halim Quteishat, 66, a poet and Palestinian refugee at the Baqaa refugee camp said he only supports the protests that demand holding the corrupt people accountable. He is concerned that any political reforms would lead to chaos and jeapordise the future of Palestinians in the country.
"We have boundaries in this country," he said. "Therefore we have to watch what we say ... We only want the regime to take the corrupt people to court and we do not want chaos."
He puts his faith in Jordan's ruling family, the Hashemites.
The Hashemites are the unifying factor. They are the least harmful among leaders in the Arab world. The alternative is unknown, he said.
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
If you go:
Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
Getting around:
Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day ‘Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience’ which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world’s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; wildlifeworldwide.com
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Honeymoonish
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'Tell the Machine Goodnight' by Katie Williams
Penguin Randomhouse
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The specs: 2018 Honda City
Price, base: From Dh57,000
Engine: 1.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 118hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 146Nm @ 4,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Two-step truce
The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National.
The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.
The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.
The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
NATIONAL%20SELECTIONS
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UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%202-litre%20direct%20injection%20turbo%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%207-speed%20automatic%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20261hp%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20400Nm%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20From%20Dh134%2C999%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
